“Yemen has been desperately trying to give itself a better image in front of the international community and foreign organizations, but they know that Yemen is a stronghold for corruption. Even the members of the anti-corruption committee were chosen by the ruling party. They wanted these people in the committee and were hand chosen one after the other.”

Yemen Post: You being a mosque preacher, do you feel that the roof of freedom is limited for preachers in Yemen?

Abdullah Hamoud: One would feel that there is freedom in Yemen for preachers. However, when you look at it from a real angle it will be clear that freedom for preachers is limited and narrow. The government wants all preachers to follow its strategy and join its lobby, whereas preachers should be transparent when talking to the people.

YP: You were a mosque preacher in the United States for many years; did you feel more freedom in preaching here in Yemen or back in the United States?

AH: After the September attacks, freedom did decrease in the United States and preachers and mosque leaders had to think twice before saying anything, especially if it dealt with the Jews. 

YP: But in general, which do you feel has more freedom for preachers, Yemen or the United States?

AH: In general, I believe that I was freer to say what I wanted while I was in the United States.

YP: Do you agree with those who say that Islah Party Sheikhs use the pulpit (Minbar) to influence locals to the benefit of the party rather than being independent preachers?

AH: Concerning them doubting our intentions when we are on the pulpits and using it to benefit our party, they cannot prove that because only god knows what is in the hearts.

Also, the Islah party is known to be a religious party, so we always used the pulpit for preaching to locals what they needed to know about their religion and teaching people about religion is different from teaching them about the Islah party. One of our goals is to build the morals and Islamic way of life in the hearts of locals, and a person doesn't need to be an Islah member to do so.

YP: Over the last five years, Yemen has welcomes a large number of Egyptian (Azhar) scholars to preach in mosques, how do you analyze this matter?

AH: The government is trying to sort of take the mosque away from its current preachers, which in result will force the mosque to lose its powers. They want to limit the mosque in numerous aspects in order for it to fit in their political agenda, however, that will be almost impossible. People respect the preacher who talks freely and gives his opinion and advice to the people according to their needs, rather than to what the government wants them to say. So, bringing foreign preachers is a key for limiting the power of the pulpit and making it less effective as well as having it agree with the policies of the ruling party. 

YP: Today Yemen has numerous committees and organizations that censor corruption in the country, isn’t this the duty of parliament? Why isn’t parliament doing its job?

AH: The government does so in order to mix the cards and play with the truth. If the parliament with all its power cannot have the full authority to change the country to the better so how can a small and new anti-corruption committee do so. It is all a game that is played to give the government a good picture in front of the world, while in reality no positive changes happen. Over the years, Yemen has been desperately trying to give itself a better image in front of the international community and foreign organizations, but they know that Yemen is a stronghold for corruption from all angles. Even the members of the anti-corruption committee were chosen by the ruling party. They wanted these people in the committee and were hand chosen one after the other. 

YP: In a number of occasions over the last three weeks, JMP members in parliament did not vote in critical issues, and favored to walk out of parliament in protest. Didn’t the people vote for you to stay in parliament instead of always walking out and boycotting?

AH: When we boycott a parliament session it is because we feel that the ruling party will vote for a matter that will harm the people, and we don’t have the power to stop them because we are minority. So, we choose to boycott those sessions which we feel is a shame for us to attend, and will hurt the people. If we  attend those sessions instead of boycotting, people will believe that the opposition agrees with the ruling party in hurting the people. 

YP: You criticize ruling party MP’s for working in favor of the party and not the country, while we also notice that MP’s from opposition parties do the same?

AH: Ruling party members are forced to follow what their leaders say, whether they agree to it or not, while we in the Islah never agree with our leaders blindly, and before we decide to vote for anything we sit together and discuss it. Only then will we agree on what to do, not looking if our leaders are happy or not. We were chosen to represent the people not our party leaders. That is the difference between us and the ruling party. I remember when we were once discussing in parliament a new law, when we were going to vote, the head of parliament without shame used to scream inside parliament and tell his party members to stand and vote for the favor of the law, ignoring that that person has his own opinion. Than with no shame some of those members stand, some not even knowing why. If one refuses to stand than he is criticized openly by the speaker of parliament in front of all the members. Speaker of parliament treats them as slaves who have no dignity. So compare what we do and how they do it.

YP: The speaker of parliament Yahya Al-Ra’ee, how would you evaluate his work up to date?

AH: Unfortunately, he is the wrong person in the wrong position. How can such a person be the speaker of the parliament.

YP: You criticize the ruling party for not doing anything for the people, what has your party done for the people?

AH: Every time we try they use force to stop us. You tell me, how many people are in our prisons today only because they expressed their opinion on what is happening in the country? People don’t have the power to express themselves and the ruling party is playing a game where anyone who goes against them must go.

YP: Do you think that females of Islah will be forced to be candidates during local elections in the near future?

AH: We don’t force anyone to do anything in our party. People should do what they feel is right, and not be forced to do anything. 

YP: You also criticize the ruling party of fabricating the results in elections. However, you won the parliamentary elections in Ibb city by a very large margin and you are an opposition?

AH: Yes, but I was also threatened before I reached my position in numerous ways. I used to get phone calls and messages threatening my life and family if I don’t step aside in the election. Also, the elections were held under difficult circumstances. The ruling party used the country's money to support its candidates and give out millions of Rials daily. Also they threaten locals by imprisoning them during the elections. During the elections, my own sister was not allowed to vote in the elections, so they have different ways to make the results of the elections go to their favor. 

YP: How do you look at the new proposal of forming a committee that fights vice and social problems, which was proposed to be headed by Sheikh Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani, and Sheikh Al-Da’rahee?

AH: We all want a country free from bad moral and negative cultural practices when walking in the streets or the park with our families. So if this committee can find modern ways to do its job, I believe that it would be for the better of the country.

YP: In your opinion, what is the solution for the country to escape the crisis it is faced with today?

AH: What can I say. If the head is not functioning properly than how can we improve our situation. The institutions in Yemen are almost all corrupt. So, the ruler needs to look at these negative aspects and try to start change that will finally benefit the people.